Ukraine's Zelenskyy tells Congress: 'We are united ... the entire free world'

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted Zelenskyy on the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday afternoon just after 2 p.m. Zelenskyy, donning army green, shook hands with the Bidens after exiting the motorcade.

The South Portico, decorated with holiday wreaths, was also adorned with the American and Ukrainian flags.

"Mr. President, welcome back," Biden said.

In a show of support, Biden was wearing a blue-and-yellow striped tie, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

President Zelenskyy has arrived at Blair House, which now has a Ukrainian flag flying overhead. Blair House, located across the street from the White House, is the residence where foreign dignitaries often stay when visiting Washington.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made the case for more military aid for Ukraine on Wednesday as some in his party oppose sending more money to the nation.

"The reason that a big bipartisan majority of the American people and a big bipartisan majority in Congress support continuing to assist Ukraine is not primarily about inspiring speeches or desire to engage in philanthropy," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

"The most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical, American interests," he continued. "Helping equip our friends in eastern Europe defeat this world is also a direct investment in reducing Putin's future capabilities to menace America, threaten our allies and contest our core interests."

But some in the GOP are questioning the amount of aid being sent to Ukraine, arguing the government should be investing that money domestically. "American taxpayers are literally paying to prop up many countries all over the world in foreign aid, but America is virtually crumbling before our eyes," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene argued in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

Other Republicans argue the need for more oversight of the funds being approved for Ukraine, stating they don't want to write a "blank check" to Ukraine.

From the frontlines of the war in Ukraine to the political frontlines of Washington on Capitol Hill and the White House, Zelenskyy continues to take risks to defend Ukraine and show masterful skill at using language and symbolism to marshal international support.

"Remember Pearl Harbor. The morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you. Remember. Remember September 11. A terrible day in 2001 when people tried to turn your cities into battlefields. When innocent people were attacked from the air. No one expected it. You couldn't stop it," he said in his virtual speech to Congress in March.

"Our country experiences the same every day," he said.

Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to the front-line city of Bakhmut on Monday, where Ukrainian and Russian forces have fought a months-long battle. The comedian-turned-politician who was elected to lead Ukraine in 2019, was named Time's person of the year earlier this month "for proving that courage can be as contagious as fear."